The increase in material wealth does not always lead to better health…

In the last 10-15 years the level of welfare of the people of India, which refers to poor countries in the world, has increased markedly. However, such improvement of life led to an unexpected result – the proportion of Indians has increased more than a third.

Scientists have released shocking statistics: while in most developed countries the number of smokers is steadily declining, in India it has increased significantly.

The study was conducted by Professor he JHA (Prabhat Jha), originally from India, now working in the research Centre planet health clinic at St. Michael’s in the canadian city of Toronto (Centre for Global Health Research, St. Michael’s Hospital).

He and his colleagues found that between 1998 and 2015 the number of male smokers in India (India) increased by nearly 36% and currently amounts to 108 million people.

This means that within 17 years, the Indian army of smokers annual increase of 1.7 million people.

In addition, ustanovleno that the number of smokers of the fair sex in India is now 11 million people.

Thus the number of smokers nationals of India confidently moved into second place in the world, giving primacy only people’s Republic of China.

The study authors noted that one of the main factors that influenced the growth in popularity of Smoking in India, is a slight increase of the material welfare of the Indians, which is observed in the last decade and a half.

Professor he Jia and his colleagues urge the government of India to take immediate steps aimed at reducing the number of smokers in the country. According to them, the most effective way to do this is the regular increase in excise tax on tobacco products, which will lead to their appreciation.

And in China, currently the number of smokers nationals of the country exceeds 300 million citizens. Every year in China from diseases caused by Smoking kill more than 1 million people.